The ground beneath their feet had long since been reduced to rubble.
Towering trees lay severed at the waist, as though a hurricane had swept through the area.
“Hey!
Blue Ogre Dorry!” “Your sword’s gotten dull today!” the Red Ogre Brogy roared with laughter, his booming voice like rolling thunder.
“Quit talking!” “Red Ogre Brogy!” “Prepare yourself!” Blue Ogre Dorry bellowed back, the muscles in his arms bulging like solid rock.
Gatz stood frozen, mouth hanging open.
Compared to the giants, the massive anchor resting on his shoulder looked like nothing more than a toy.
“My…
my God…” “Those are giants…?” Even Silver and Dorum were stunned by the impossible spectacle unfolding before them.
Only Rocks remained calm.
Rather than surprise…
He folded his arms with interest.
“So these are the warriors of Elbaf.” “They certainly live up to their reputation.” Ryne, however, wasn’t watching the duel.
His nose twitched slightly.
His gaze shifted beyond the battling giants.
A large bonfire burned behind them.
Roasting above it was an enormous Sea King, blackened almost beyond recognition.
Clearly…
It had been the prize from their latest duel.
A thick smell of burnt meat drifted through the clearing.
Ryne frowned almost imperceptibly.
What a waste.
That was the only thought in his mind.
A Sea King so full of vitality should have possessed wonderfully delicate meat.
Instead…
It had been charred into little more than charcoal.
Just then— BOOM!
The volcano in the center of Little Garden erupted.
The instant they saw the eruption…
Both giants stopped fighting simultaneously.
Each stepped backward.
Then burst into laughter.
“Gyahahaha!” “It’s another draw!” “Wahahaha!” “A draw again!” They casually lowered their weapons before sitting beside the fire.
Tearing huge chunks from the burned Sea King…
They began eating as though the life-or-death battle moments earlier had never happened.
Rocks stepped into the clearing with the others.
“Hey.” “You two.” His voice wasn’t loud.
Yet it reached both giants effortlessly.
Dorry and Brogy turned together.
The tiny humans before them were scarcely larger than insects.
“Hm?” “Humans?” “Did you lose your way and wander into Little Garden?” Dorry asked curiously.
“Your duel was entertaining.” Rocks smiled.
“But I’m more curious…” “Why have you been fighting for over fifty years?” “Fifty years?!” Gatz blurted out.
“Gyahahaha!” “How did you know?” Brogy looked genuinely surprised.
“It’s obvious.” Rocks pointed toward the mountain of bones surrounding the battlefield.
There were dinosaur skeletons.
Sea King skeletons.
Countless remains.
“You’d need at least fifty years to eat this island’s large animals almost to extinction.” The two giants exchanged glances.
Then laughed even louder.
“Interesting human!” “That’s right!” “We’ve been dueling here for over fifty years!” Dorry proudly pounded his chest.
“As for why…” Brogy scratched his enormous head.
“More than fifty years ago…” “We each caught a Sea King.” “Mine came from the North Blue.” “His came from the South Blue.” “A little girl asked whose catch was larger.” “I said mine was.” “He insisted his was.” “Since neither of us would yield…” “We entrusted the judgment to the God of Elbaf.” “And settled it through honorable combat!” Gatz.
Silver.
Dorum.
The three exchanged bewildered looks.
…That was the reason?
They had fought legendary duels for over fifty years…
Over something that trivial?
It was simultaneously…
Incredibly manly.
And unbelievably ridiculous.
Even Rocks couldn’t stop laughing.
Ryne stepped forward.
Looking up at the two towering giants, he spoke calmly.
“Could you pause your duel for a while?” The childish voice echoed across the clearing.
The giants stopped laughing.
Their enormous eyes focused on the tiny child standing before them.
“Little one…” “What did you just say?” Brogy asked in confusion.
Instead of answering…
Ryne pointed toward the burnt chunk of Sea King meat in their hands.
“Cooking food this poorly…” “…is an insult to the ingredients.” “And a disgrace to the prey you risked your honor to hunt.” His voice remained calm.
Yet every word struck home.
The members of the Rocks Pirates had long grown accustomed to Ryne’s uncompromising standards in the kitchen.
The two giants…
Had never heard anything like this before.
Silence fell.
The smiles vanished from Dorry and Brogy’s faces.
Their expressions became solemn.
The honor of an Elbaf warrior…
Was not something a human child could criticize.
“Little one.” Dorry’s voice deepened.
“Are you…” “…challenging the pride of Elbaf?” Invisible pressure descended over the clearing.
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Rocks, however…
Only grinned wider.
He wanted to see exactly how his young chef intended to conquer two warriors whose muscles clearly outweighed their brains.
Ryne remained perfectly calm.
Meeting the giant’s gaze without fear, he replied, “I’m simply stating a fact.” After a brief pause, he continued with absolute confidence.
“Give me that meat.” “I’ll show you…” “…what it’s actually supposed to taste like.” His words landed like a stone dropped into still water.
Both giants were shaken.
They had lived for well over a century.
They had eaten mountains of meat.
Never…
Not once…
Had anyone criticized their cooking to their faces.
“Gyahahaha!” “Interesting!” “What an interesting little human!” Brogy slapped his thigh so hard that the ground trembled.
“You really think you can make it taste better?” “Not better.” Ryne corrected him.
“I’ll bring back the flavor the ingredient was meant to have .” The Wager “What confidence.” Dorry snorted.
Twin streams of vapor shot from his nostrils.
“Human cooking is nothing more than adding salt and roasting meat.” “What difference could there possibly be?” Among the warriors of Elbaf, food was simply fuel.
As long as it was cooked…
It was good enough.
Flavor had never mattered.
“In that case…” Rocks suddenly spoke up.
“How about a wager?” Clearly enjoying himself, he rested a hand on Ryne’s shoulder.
“Let our chef prepare that burnt meat.” “If you admit it tastes better than yours…” “We win.” “And if it doesn’t?” Brogy asked.
“Then we’ll leave this island immediately.” “And every barrel of rum aboard our ship belongs to you.” Rocks answered without hesitation.
“And if you win?” Dorry continued.
Rocks flashed a toothy grin.
“If we win…” “You admit you’ve spent the last fifty years eating garbage.” “And while we’re hunting on this island…” “You two become our guides.” It was an openly provocative challenge.
The two giants looked at one another.
Their expressions held identical emotions.
Disbelief.
And curiosity.
“Fine!” “We accept!” Brogy slammed the enormous half-charred Sea King meat into the ground with a heavy thud.
“Little human!” “Show us what you’ve got!” Gatz and Dorum couldn’t help feeling nervous.
The stakes were surprisingly high.
Only Silver remained quietly leaning against a tree.
He trusted Ryne completely.
Walking toward the enormous slab of meat—larger than he was tall—Ryne gently pressed a hand against it.
The outside had been carbonized into something as hard as stone.
But inside…
The heat remained.
It could still be saved.
“Gatz.” “Bring it closer to the fire.” “Silver.” “Find me large, clean leaves.” “Dorum.” “Use your axe.” “I need long, thin wooden skewers.” His orders came calmly and efficiently.
The three immediately got to work.
Following Ryne’s instructions, Gatz repositioned the meat near the fire.
Not directly above it.
Just close enough for the remaining heat to continue cooking the interior.
Ryne drew his chef’s knife.
Silver flashed.
With a series of clean strokes…
The entire burnt outer layer peeled away.
Crack.
Crack.
Even Dorry and Brogy couldn’t help letting out impressed grunts.
Once the blackened shell had been removed…
Dark brown Sea King meat emerged beneath.
It still wasn’t beautiful.
But it was no longer charcoal.
Using the skewers Dorum had carved…
Ryne pierced countless tiny holes across the meat.
Turning his back to the others…
The jade-white Endless Seasoning Bottle appeared silently in his palm.
“Papaya enzymes…” “To tenderize the meat.” “Strong distilled spirits…” “To eliminate the fishiness.” “Sea salt crystals…” “To enhance the sweetness of deep-sea fish.” “And…” “A touch of rosemary…” “To awaken sleeping taste buds.” An almost invisible drop of liquid…
Mixed with tiny crystals and fragrant powder…
Fell evenly across the meat.
The seasonings seeped into every tiny opening.
Afterward…
Ryne wrapped the entire slab tightly in the broad leaves Silver had gathered.
It resembled a gigantic green parcel.
He buried it beneath the hot ashes surrounding the fire for its final slow roast.
Every movement flowed naturally.
Gracefully.
Turning primitive campfire cooking into something resembling art.
The two giants watched in complete fascination.
Never had they imagined that preparing meat could involve so many techniques.
About ten minutes later…
Ryne uncovered the hot ashes.
He slowly unwrapped the giant leaves.
The instant they opened— A fragrance unlike anything anyone present had ever experienced…
Exploded into the air.